The lunar eclipse in July 2018 is a reminder to watch the moon every night – Quartz



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On July 27, a blood moon will shine a disturbing red in front of the longest lunar eclipse that Earth will experience in the 21st century. For an hour and 43 minutes, the moon will disappear from the sky, completely obscured by the shadow that our planet projects on it.

Unfortunately, not all Earthmen will be able to enjoy the celestial event extended once in a lifetime. . It will only be visible from parts of Africa, Europe, and North and South America only if the sky is clear.

But there is good news: we can all enjoy the moon every night. complete and bright. The thrill of an unusual natural event like a lunar eclipse only underscores the fact that we ignore the everyday wonders that surround us all the time. We spend our days and nights watching the screens, and do not look enough at the sky. This means that we lack great riches that are within the reach of all, but appreciated by only a few.

Stealing the Moon

A 200-year-old Zen Buddhist parable perfectly illustrates the importance of looking at

According to traditional traditions, the Japanese Zen master and poet Ryokan Taigu, who lived from 1758 to 1831, was a happy hermit. He trained in a monastery for 10 years, then rejected the conventional religion. He continued to lead a simple life, to meditate, to write poetry, to drink sake from time to time with rural farmers, and to share his modest meals with birds and animals.

He did not have much to steal. But one night, a thief came to the Ryokan Mountain Hut in search of treasure. The criminal found nothing of value and was disappointed, which saddened the Zen master. It is said that the poet pressed his clothes – or his blanket, according to the story you read – about the thief, saying, "You have come such a long way to see me, please accept this gift."

the thief took the clothes of the poet. But he did not take anything that mattered to the Zen master, who would have spent the rest of the evening naked, looking at the moon in the sky – a jewel that no one could steal, and yet everyone could enjoy it. Ryokan was still a little sad, because he had not been able to give the thief this most precious treasure. In his journal, the Zen master wrote a now famous poem about the experience:

The thief left him behind – The moon at the window

Zen teachers tell that most people attached to things that do not really matter, while missing the wonders that abound in the natural world. Ryokan would have happily shared his greatest treasure with the thief, if only the visiting criminal could have seen him

Personal lunar eclipse

The moon in Buddhism is a symbol of enlightenment. Each of us could be illuminated, as bright as a full moon on a clear night, but our wiser, better nature is often obscured by the clouds, writes the author and professor of Buddhist studies at Lehigh University, Kenneth Kraft, in the Huffington Post. 19659002] The attachment and distractions prevent us from realizing that we already have what we need. According to Zen philosophers, existence is sufficient and it is not necessary to seize power, money or exciting experiences. According to Kraft, the need to be delighted and look for more experiences – perhaps even the excitement of a lunar eclipse – is what causes our suffering.

Yet, we can still capture the treasure, the moon of illumination hidden behind our personal clouds. . "Even in the midst of illusion, there is awakening, even in the midst of awakening, there is illusion," he wrote.

  Nantenbo full moon
Nantenbo full moon. (Public Domain)

Kraft shows an image of the full moon, circular, simple, circular, of the full moon by the Japanese painter Nantenbo in the early nineteenth century to demonstrate the infinite possibilities offered by common shapes and everyday objects in the sky or a bowl in your kitchen cabinet. "A circle is whole but empty, without beginning or end. The universe also explains, in the Buddhist vision, "explains the professor

When we come into contact with the fullness and possibilities of simple things, we become rich, and this wealth is accessible to all, even the poorer mountain hermits.This is why Natenbo's painting is accompanied by this inscription:

If you want the moon, here it is.Catch!

Pointing to the moon

The moon as a metaphor often appears in Buddhism, symbolizes the truth, and the Lankavatra Sutra, compiled around the 4th century, contains a Buddha's lunar warning to the disciples so as not to become confused about his teachings. "As the ignorant seize the fingertip and not the moon, so those who cling to the letter, do not know my truth. "

This is a reminder to turn to nature to understand reality.To be illuminated, we do not know the truth. we have pa I need lessons or even teachers, although they can guide us.

"A finger pointing to the moon is not the moon." The finger is needed to know where to look for the moon, but if you take the finger for the moon itself, you'll never know the real moon Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in Old Path White Clouds: Walking In the Footsteps of the Buddha

The Blood Moons Are Dramatic and Exciting There is nothing like The attention we pay to these extraordinary celestial events is a little like the finger pointing to the moon.If we only look at the sky and admire the moon when something unusual happens produces – as a color change caused by a total lunar eclipse – then we miss the true treasure, just like the thief in the parable of Ryokan.A lunar eclipse only has importance for those who watch the sky in the moonlight every night.

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